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Dread at the control

Michael George Campbell (4 June 1954 – 15 March 2008), better known as Mikey Dread, was a Jamaican singer, producer, and broadcaster. He was one of the most influential performers and innovators in reggae music.

After starting out as an engineer, Campbell hosted the most popular radio program on the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation, using the DJ name Mikey Dread. Examples of Mikey Dread's distinctive radio chatter can be heard on the LP "African Anthem Dubwise". He also began working as a recording artist, with Lee "Scratch" Perry producing his signature tune, "Dread at the Controls". By the late 1970s he had started his own DATC label, working with artists such as Edi Fitzroy, Sugar Minott, and Earl Sixteen, as well as producing his own work. The label released Dread's albums "Evolutionary Rockers" (released in the UK as "Dread at the Controls"), and "World War III".

Campbell's music attracted the attention of British punk rockers The Clash, who invited him over to England to tour with them in 1980. He went on to produce their "Bankrobber" single and perform on several songs on their 1980 album "Sandinista!". During the early 1980s, Campbell provided vocals with the reggae collective Singers And Players on Adrian Sherwood's On-U Sound record label. He also produced ten dub tracks for UB40 and toured Europe and Scandinavia as their support artist.

He studied at the National Broadcasting School in London in 1980 and in 1984 studied advanced recording technology at the North London Polytechnic. His work in the United Kingdom included hosting series such as "Rockers Roadshow" and narrating the six-part Channel 4 reggae documentary series "Deep Roots Music". (Read more at Wikipedia.)

Links To Peel[]

Mikey_Dread_---_Dread_at_the_Controls

Mikey Dread --- Dread at the Controls

Mikey Dread was one of the reggae artists most played by Peel in the late 1970s and early 1980s, from early recordings with Lee Perry to the landmark LPs that established his reputation in the UK and outings with The Clash. There was one Peel session, in 1982, toward the end of Mikey Dread's initial run as a solo recording artist. The DJ appeared to pay little attention to later recordings.

As well as Mikey Dread's own recordings, Peel also played releases by other artists on the DATC label.

Festive Fifty Entries[]

  • None

Sessions[]

One session. No known commercial release.

1. Recorded: unknown. First broadcast: 23 August 1982. Repeated:

  • Parrot Jungle / Problems / Zodiac Sound /Heavyweight Sound

Other Shows Played[]

1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1997
2000
2001

See Also[]

External Links[]

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